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Where does the word "journal" come from? It comes from Latin diurnalis, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
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Where does the word "journal" come from? It comes from Latin diurnalis, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
Journal’s story begins in Latin: diurnalis meant “daily.” From 'dies', day. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as jurnal. A book of daily prayers. It reached English by 1300s as journal. Newspapers called 'journals' date from the 1700s. Today, journal means a daily record; a periodical.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient diurnalis "daily", from 'dies', day.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval jurnal "daily service book", a book of daily prayers.
- Stage 3 · English · 1300s journal "service book", newspapers called 'journals' date from the 1700s.